Running Down Things to Do in Every Wardrobe

Here’s our checklist for reaching wardrobe nirvana. After you follow these steps, you get to enjoy the fruits of your labour every time you open your wardrobe door:

Declutter. Remove everything in the wardrobe and sort it into three piles:

keep, toss, or donate – From the “keep” pile, store anything that you don’t need on a daily basis. When you’re down to the “keep” pile, neatly put them in season clothes, accessories, toys, or sporting equipment back into the wardrobe and pack and store the rest — but not in the wardrobe!
Free up the floors. Store everything from wardrobe floors so the floors are free from clutter. If you need to use shoe racks, be sure they’re neatly arranged, and the shoes don’t give off a sweaty smell. Storing shoes in baskets is better.
Bring the wardrobe space back to its original purpose. If you have a guest room wardrobe where you’ve been storing sports gear or arts and crafts supplies, pack everything away and return the wardrobe to its function.

Replace any missing shelves, hanging bars, hooks, and so on. Maybe you stopped noticing the missing second shelf in the wardrobe years ago, but buyers will notice. They’re trying to figure out whether their stuff will fit and broken or missing bits draw their attention to work instead of to imagining their belongings sitting organized in the wardrobe.

Paint. Many older homes show their age when you open wardrobe doors. Wardrobes often were missed when the rest of the room was renovated. You see outdated wallpaper or telling colour choices that say old. Remember that you’re competing with newer homes. A little paint can keep your property in the running.

Organize. Store the items you use daily in a straight and organized manner. Think of how a retail store would set up its space. (They’re in the selling business, after all.) In this case, you’re selling space, so rather than just putting everything back willynilly, store smaller items such as gloves, hats, scarves, excess mail and paperwork, sporting equipment, and cooking items in storage containers or baskets within the wardrobe.

Storage containers: Storage containers are a wonderful storage solution that show buyers the possibilities of the wardrobe space, and you can take them with you when you move. Buy clear containers in a variety of sizes so you can easily see what’s inside without unstacking the containers or pulling off the lids. After you sell your house, just pack the containers into the moving truck.
Shoe racks: We realize that shoe racks are ideal for master bedroom wardrobes while you’re living in the house, but you’re better off removing them for sale preparation rather than overloading your wardrobe. Store the shoes you need in clear shoe boxes instead of using a shoe rack.
Don’t leave all your shoes on display and remember that nothing is more off putting to an interested buyer than odour, especially in enclosed wardrobe areas. Overcoming the impression of a smelly wardrobe is extremely difficult, so why risk it? Pack away as many out of season shoes as you can and take them to the storage unit, and then leave out a few pairs to show the function and spaciousness of the wardrobe.
Wire or wicker baskets: Baskets are great for organizing your wardrobes and handling the clutter under both kitchen and bathroom counters but remember to use those that come with a labelling system. This way, not only can you find the things that you need, but you give even the most disorganized buyer the chance to imagine living in an organized house. Showing the possibilities helps sell the dream.
Use wide, short wicker baskets with lids and cotton liners for storing your dirty laundry. During showing periods, these baskets are a definite improvement to the open top plastic laundry baskets. They look like storage baskets but serve a function to help keep the room open house ready.
Wire shelving: Wire shelving is a perfect solution for odd sized wardrobes because it’s adaptable to fit any space, and you can adjust the same shelving later to fit the wardrobes in your new home.
Wardrobe lights: Battery operated lights are fantastic for wardrobes that don’t have enough light shining in from the room or within the wardrobe itself. They’re very inexpensive and tend to make a smaller wardrobe look larger and more inviting. Look for them at dollar stores.